newt id please

[1973scotty]

hi there,

i have found lots of newts in my pond and wondered if someone could tell me what sort of newts they are?

[1973scotty]

[yellowhammer]

Palmate newts, Lissotriton helveticus (formerly Triturus heveticus), you lucky thing!

[honeybee]

I'd agree with that. Make sure you keep lots of waterplants etc for them to hide in the roots and don't disturb the pond too much(although they're obviously happy to be in your pond), you're privledged (sp?) to have them
What other life do you have in there? When I did a newt study I found palmates to be in the more shady ponds with a lot of silt and not too much else.

[demicav]

You're very lucky to have these newts in your pond. There is supposed to be Palmates and Smooth newts at a nature reserve near me but I haven't seen any yet although I used to see loads as a child.

[1973scotty]

thanks!

my pond is pretty disgusting, full of silt, pond weed and roots. there are some damselfly nymphs (some of which changed into damselflies yesterday) some horrible looking woodlice things and small wormy looking things that the newts like to eat!

here is a damsel pic i took yesterday

[honeybee]

Originally Posted by 1973scotty

thanks!

my pond is pretty disgusting, full of silt, pond weed and roots. there are some damselfly nymphs (some of which changed into damselflies yesterday) some horrible looking woodlice things and small wormy looking things that the newts like to eat!

here is a damsel pic i took yesterday

That exactly confirms what I found... they ponds dominated and favoured by palmates were in ponds that were pretty grotty but with a few reeds / tall water plants and lots of dragonflies.